The Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation is the non-profit affiliate of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District. We inspire innovation and excellence in the school district through scholarship, faculty innovation grants, and by being active members of the community.
BWEF Mini Golf: Sept. 12, 2024 at Cool Springs!
Join us for our annual mini golf outing on Sept. 12, 2024, at Cool Springs Mini Golf (1530 Hamilton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234)! Enjoy:
|
BWEF Mini Golf Outing Sept. 12, 2024. 5-8 p.m. Cool Springs Mini Golf 1530 Hamilton Road, Pgh., PA 15234 |
Sponsors Needed!
Your sponsorship generosity support empowers us to positively impact the teaching and learning experience in significant ways. There is a sponsorship level for every budget, and each one comes with various inclusions. Thank you for helping us create and improve educational opportunities for our faculty, staff, and students.
- *Highlander Hero: $5,000. Sponsor of all activities including Mobile Fab Lab, all refreshment and treat stations, special games, skills challenges, face painting, receive Cool Springs credit.
- *Mobile Fab Lab Sponsor: $3,500. Fund a custom, personalized Highlander ID badge for all students in attendance made on site by the Fab Lab, and receive Cool Springs credit.
- *Refreshments Sponsor: $2,000. Provide beverage and treat stations for all attendees, receive Cool Springs credit
- The “Slug” Combo: $600. Named after Officer Sean Sluganski. Sponsor all special games and activities (like Plinko, hole-in-one challenge, corn-hole toss, face-painting, etc.) and one mini golf hole.
- Highlander Hole Sponsor: $250. Sponsor of one mini golf hole.
- Baldwin High School Alumni “Class of” Sign: $150. Sale! Sponsor a hole on behalf of the year you graduated (enter year at checkout).
- In-Kind raffle donations.
*Indicates a min. $500 scholarship presented in the donor's name during the 2024-25 school year.
Little Free Library Dedicated to Mary Lepiane
We are pleased to announce that thanks to dozens of generous donations made in her memory, we have dedicated a Little Free Library to Mary Imbrogno Lepiane, a lifelong Baldwin resident who passed away in February. The library is located at the main entrance to the newly renovated Sanda Park in Baldwin Borough. Stop by any time to leave a book and take a book! We'd like to thank everyone who donated to BWEF in Mary's memory and helped install the library. You can read more about this new community asset on our Headlines page. |
2024 Scholarship Recipients
Congratulations to our 2024 BWEF scholarship recipients!
Annual BWEF Scholarships
|
- Asmita Pokharel, presented by Substitute Teacher Service
- Leila Usanovic, presented by Whitehall Green Thumbers Garden Club
Ambition is something that is innate in each of us, and with this group of seniors, their ambition is shown through their vast collection of hobbies, interests, extra-curricular activities, volunteer commitments, and GPAs that are off the charts.
So think of the impact that this group of Highlanders will have in a few months when Hailey, Elizabeth, and Leila dig in at the University of Pittsburgh; when Chelsea and Mwango start classes at Duquesne University; when Evelyn gets started at Pennsylvania West University; when Shea, Aria, and Asmita start classes at Penn State University; and when Kevin gets rolling at the University of Alabama.
Brady Family Merit Scholarship
- Dilisha Neopaney, presented by the Brady Family. Dilisha is carrying a weighted GPA of 4.3 and was admitted into the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. She aspires to become a surgeon after she completes her MD-PhD program; and hopes to be published in medical journals some day.
Donald Huckle Memorial Band Scholarship
- Samantha Poznick, presented by the Donald Huckle Memorial Scholarship Endowment. This award is co-presented by BWEF and the Baldwin Highlander Music Patrons to Samantha, who has excelled in her time with the marching band and has exhibited the qualities of pride, discipline, respect, and commitment advocated by Mr. Huckle during his tenure at Baldwin High School.
Entering the Workforce Scholarship
- Michael Niles, presented by Definitely You. Michael was inspired by his time at Steel Center to pursue work as a master electrician and will apply to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers later this year. He aspires to work with complex wiring layouts, power distribution systems, and advanced technologies commonly found in commercial buildings.
Dorothy Hutchins Forman Memorial Scholarship
- Matthew Colwell, presented by the Dorothy Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Endowment. Matthew’s artistic talent was evident in his artwork submission that portrayed a world bursting with color amidst the backdrop of a monochromatic city—illustrating how to find beauty in the most unexpected places. He will attend La Roche University and pursue a major in graphic design.
- Daniella Rigby, presented by the Dorothy Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Endowment. Daniella’s passion for artistic expression ignited during ceramics class during her junior year. A blue coil pot she created was on display at Carnegie Mellon University for a few months this year and she will attend Kent State University this fall.
Highlander STEM Scholarship presented by River Point Technology
- Hannah Ferkett. Hannah plans to pursue mechanical engineering at Messiah University and in her scholarship application she described a process for researching, identifying, and constructing wells in areas of the world that do not have access to fresh drinking water.
- Brendan Harris. Brendan will attend the University of Notre Dame for engineering this fall and in his application letter, he outlined a multi-step plan to reduce the manufacturing, consumption, and dependency on single use plastic materials.
- Evan Stokes. Evan is off to the University of Florida later this year and in his essay he described ways to cut carbon emissions around the world through nuclear engineering.
James E. Lewis Science Scholarship
- Rylee Glus, presented by the James E. Lewis Science Endowment. Rylee is currently carrying a weighted GPA over 4.5 and will attend the Ohio State University Honors Program to pursue a major in biology on a pre-medicine track. She served as president of Baldwin’s Best Buddies chapter this year and it’s inspired her to help others as a career vocation, specifically as a physician.
Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship
- Alayna Kercher, presented by the Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship Fund. Alayna knew that she wanted to enter the field of law enforcement, particularly as a Pennsylvania State Trooper, when she was just five years old. She not only follows in Sean’s footsteps by pursuing a career in law enforcement and service, but she’ll follow in her father’s and in her grandfather’s footsteps, both of whom have held careers in law enforcement; and in her grandfather’s case, also as a Pennsylvania State Trooper.
Thanks to our community partners, BWEF will award more than $30,000 in scholarship value this year. We presented certificates of scholarship at senior recognition night on May 29. Congratulations to all recipients and to the entire class of 2024!
Items Needed! Purple Pantry Donations
The Purple Pantry provides clean clothing, personal hygiene supplies, and basic toiletries to students in a private setting so that the District's most at-risk students will be put in position to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
We will host three collection drives this summer:
|
Tastebuds Jr. Raises $3,100 for Best Buddies
Tastebuds Jr. lived up to its name as more than 100 attendees packed into the R.A. Lutz Elementary School cafeteria and enjoyed delicious cuisine from dozens of local eateries! The event raised over $3,100 in support of the Baldwin High School Best Buddies Club and Best Buddies PA. You can read more about the inaugural event on our Headlines page. |
Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship: Campaign Underway
Officer Sean Sluganski (Baldwin High School, '09) of the McKeesport Police Department was killed in the line of duty on February 6, 2023. To honor his legacy, BWEF will present the Officer Sean Sluganski Memorial Scholarship annually to a graduating senior of Baldwin High School who intends to pursue a career in law enforcement or crime prevention. To support this cause, we have launched a $75,000 fundraising campaign to support the memorial scholarship. There are multiple ways to support this campaign, including Sean's birthday fundraiser on Oct. 29. |
Pathways to Support BWEF
There are a variety of ways to support the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation. Whether you want to become a community partner, establish an endowment fund, attend/host a fundraiser, or join the foundation as a member, we are always looking for ways to expand our network and our impact. Contact us at [email protected] to start a conversation.